Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Benjamin

With Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest right around the corner, the million-dollar question on everyone's lips is whether there will be a Reggae Sunsplash.

The Gleaner recently found out there will be no Reggae Sunsplash to be held this year. According to the owner of the Sunsplash brand name, Kenny Benjamin, Reggae Sunsplash will return in 2008. Benjamin told The Gleaner, "there were many reasons for not keeping Sunsplash this year, the elections has been one of them."

Last year saw the return of Reggae Sunsplash after a nine year hiatus. Sunsplash returned with a new venue in Ocho Rios, St. Ann and new sponsors, revamping the image of the festival. Since the inception of the show in 1978 at Jarrett Park, Montego Bay, Sunsplash has also been at the Bob Marley Beach in Montego Bay, the Dover Raceway in St. Ann and Jam World in Portmore.

Small crowds

Last year saw performances from the likes of Bounty Killer, Machel Montano, Morgan Heritage, Steel Pulse, UB40 and Maxi Priest, among others.

The return of Sunsplash last year was greeted by small crowds, late nights and a debut performance in Jamaica from UB40. The general feeling was that Sunsplash announced the return of the original reggae festival. Rodney Davis of Cable and Wireless told The Gleaner in a previous interview that "There is only one Reggae Sunsplash. Its authenticity, its commitment to building reggae music not only in Jamaica but internationally. The key thing is it is all about reggae."

With that in mind Kenny Benjamin declared that last year's Sunsplash was a good show and next year will be even better.